Monday Monday

Ug. I'm fighting a killer migraine that so far has decided to ignore the following medications: ibuprofen, Excedrin, Maxalt, and a sausage-egg-and-cheese biscuit. Fucking hell.

I would skip posting today but since I was such a lousy poster last week I'm not going to let myself off the hook. Instead, I'm just going to bore you with some links!

Curiousgyrl sent me a link to this story about a pediatrician that refused to treat a little girl with an ear infection because--oh, the horror--the mother had TATTOOS. Apparently, tattoos offend his Christian sensibilities. Um, OK, whatEVER, motherfucker. Will one of you well-educated bible folks send me the verses in the bible that say, "Doctor, refuse to treat the sick children of the tattooed harlot!" Perhaps he's taking the "suffer the little children" idea literally? I'm aware that it says somewhere in the Old Testament that you should not mark or modify your body in any way--that's why some Jews don't get tattooed--but it's my understanding that Jesus himself was all about the FORGIVENESS. I can see refusing to treat the little girl if the mom is running around the lobby of the office with a tattoo gun threatening to give everyone a tattoo that says "My mom is cooler than YOURS" but otherwise, what the fuck? Seriously. It seems to me that the Christian thing for that doctor to do is open his heart and treat the little girl. Intolerance and bigotry are what Jesus was AGAINST.

On a different note, I'd recommend you check out the site Scarleteen. It's a great site with excellent sex ed info for teens. In high school I volunteered at a birth control clinic (I'm sure that SHOCKS you), and I was constantly surprised by how little my fellow students knew about the subject. This site is informative without being condescending. Spread the word. Thanks to Annie for the link.

Lastly, Charlie and I are quoted in the infertility cover article in this medical journal (to read the article, you have to download a PDF file) in the February issue. It's meant to educate doctors about the emotional side of infertility, and it does a great job. Especially awesome is the fact that not ONCE does the article claim IVF "implants" embryos in the womb. They say transfer, transfer, transfer! Kudos to Jesse Madsen, the author of the article. She rocks.

Enjoy your Monday!

Comments

[Labor Nurse]

1.

Urg... migraines suck. I have no idea how you are managing a post with one. How about some ice to your head??

[NicolefromAZ]

2.

I am currently taking Inderol for my migraines and it is supposed to safe for breastfeeding.

Good luck with the migraines.

[Martha]

3.

Okay, that's the most idiotic "news story" I've ever read. First, the idea that the doctor won't treat this child based on the parent's tatoos is idiotic.

My question is, why the heck didn't the parents take the child elsewhere to treat the ear infection? Surely he isn't the only medical professional in Bakersfield?

[laura]

4.

That was a very nice article, and both you and Charlie sounded informative and sincere. I really like the fact that the article focused a lot on male factor infertility ... you don't find much of that in ews stories, articles, etc. And yes, they transfer NOT implant!

[Linda]

5.

If that story is true, that physician is guilty of malpractice as well as a decidely non-Christian attitude. How sad.

[Leslie]

6.

Caffine? Sometimes it helps me in a pinch.

[Abigail]

7.

Gonna second the caffeine assvice.

Re the "Christian" doctor - the fuck? Has he read the Hypocratic Oath? They Bible maybe? Is there something about tattoos in the Bible - I think I missed that. What an asswipe. More and more we hear about people being discriminated against because they made someone uncomfortable. You know what, one person's comfort doesn't trump another's rights. These so-called Christians need to get over themselves and stop thinking that the world is their own personal mega-church where everyone is white and straight and the patriarchy thrives. I hope that mother in Bakersfield continues her fight.

[SarahD]

8.

God, what IS it with the migraines lately? I've had one every day since last Thursday (could be farther back, since my dain is so bramaged now). Could it be the weather changes? Something. I've been through Motrin, Anacin, Midrin, and copious amounts of caffeine. Still it returns.

Also, to chime in on birth control, I'm still amazed at how many of my peers know very little about it other than "pill--take it", especially men, and I'm 30. You start talking contraindictions, side effects, or even variety with them and they look like you're speaking in Martian. Why is it ok to not be educated about that, and how did they get this old not listening?

[Kris]

9.

A quick comment today...

Apparently that doc is an idiot (obviously) since it was the DAUGHTER needing treatment NOT the mother and I assume the young girl wasn't covered in tattoos.

I taught sex ed to first year UNIVERSITY students...you wouldn't believe the things I heard.

Migraines suck the big suckage, I can relate.

K.

[abbyhorton01@hotmail.com]

10.

I think there's more to that story than meets the eye. Other tattooed patients said they've had no problem with him.

And I didn't read all your comments, but I imagine he's referring to the part of the Bible that says our bodies are to be treated as holy temples - not to be defiled. I know people who won't get tats because of this verse, but at the same time it's VERY open to interpretation. (I mean, I have pierced ears, people have plastic surgery, it's all basically the same, right?)

Those people can find another doctor, and the doctor is open to his own freedom of speech - and I'd say his beliefs are a form of that.

Thank God this is America and we can all have our own ways - within reason!

[Ollie]

11.

I think that goes against the doctor's Hippocratic Oath, doesn't it? Jeez, what a jerkhead.

Sorry about the migraine. They suck, and there is no two ways about it. I hope it hits the road post haste.

[marion]

12.

Hmmmm. Interesting that the paper managed to find another patient of his with tattooes who hasn't had any problems. Wonder if the story is more complicated.

That being said, allowing a little girl to suffer from an untreated ear infection out of disapproval of the tattooes of her MOTHER is one of the more un-Christian things I can think of that isn't outright fatal. What he COULD have done is checked out the ears, written the mother a prescription, and then told her that she'd need to find another doctor in the future, as tattooes are against his faith. I'd still find that highly silly...but, his office, his rules and all that. Sending the little girl home without treating her under those circumstances was, IMHO, unethical - not illegal, just unethical.

[curiousgyrl]

13.

the article didn't say where the 2nd mother's tattoos were located...:)

As for those arguing that the mom is at fault if she couldnt find a second source of same day treatment, I would suggest that this argument buys into the "mommy myth" of the supermom. Probably after mom got off work, got her toddler to the dr.s office, and got rejected, nothing else was available. Duh.

[curiousgyrl]

14.

great book, by the way:

http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Myth-Idealization-Motherhood-Undermined/dp/0743259998

[Chantelle]

15.

Even though you probably definitely have heard it, I'm taking a chance that maybe you haven't!

John Mayer sings a beautiful song called, "Victoria" and it's all about a girl named Tori!

Download it!

[Jessie]

16.

OK, That doctor is an idiot. I haven't even read the article yet but this made me quite mad. I am a Christian. My husband is a Christian. We both work at a Christian radio station. We are in leadership at our church..which is a standard non-denominational church, much like Horizon Christian Fellowship or Calvary Chapel. And we are both heavily tattooed. The bible does talk about how your body is a temple. When have you ever seen a temple that had no artwork? That's what we consider our tattoos to be.

In the book of Revelation, it says something along the lines of how He will ride in on a white horse, bearing a mark on His thigh. He being God, of course. The mark? A tattoo. Funny. That doctor needs to actually read his bible.

One more point I have to make. Leviticus is the book that talks about how your body is a temple and you should not mark it. Leviticus is in the Old Testament. While all of the bible is the true and accurate word of God, there was also a new covenant in the New Testament. Jesus was born. It's all about forgiveness now, baby.

:-)

[Jo-Ann]

17.

Tht article about refusing medical treatment to a baby of a mother with tatoos had me angry with steam coming out my ears WTF!

You guys came across great in the article.

It was good to see you, although my rambunctious duo had me unable to really have a conversation. A. and Tori had a really really cute moment. Remind me to tell you about it.

[Christine]

18.

Both state statutes and the AVMA say that I have the right to turn down service to anyone, for any reason, so I get that the doctor was within his rights.

However, when I've turned people down, it's usually along the lines of, "If I open your dog for a C-section because you fucking bred her, I'm spaying her at the same time and if you don't like that you can go somewhere else." I've never turned someone away because of how they look or act...I've even dealt with owners that are clearly drunk. At 9 in the morning.

Years ago I had this Holly Hobby-hat thing you could stick in the freezer and then wear when a migraine struck. I loved it, and I'm still pissed that my mom threw it out. Sometimes it was the only thing that got me through the day.

[curiousgyrl]

19.

I would say that anybody who is drunk at 9am is doing pretty good to get their dog to the vet. Definitely an animal lover!

[InDueTime]

20.

I hope your Tuesday is much better sweetie!! Hugs!

[CTG]

21.

I had a terrible migrane yesterday that was still giving me eye stabs today...I say we collect all our migranes and send them to asshat doctor and maybe he won't come out of a dark hole for a long time. Ah...wishful thinking I know.

[Anne]

22.

I feel blessed to have never suffered a migraine. Hope the pain eases very very soon.

[smashedpea]

23.

Yikes. I used to work with food banks and we sometimes had problems with Christian ones, especially those run by the Sally Ann, refusing to give food to people that were coming in drunk or high. We argued until we were blue in the face that even if they didn't want to feed people while drunk, they may want to think about the kids at least some of these people had at home. And then there were those where people had to pray before having access to any food.

It still makes me mad just thinking about it. Some of these food banks were the only show in town, so it's not like folks could go somewhere else or anything.

And where do we draw the line? If it's okay to not serve someone because she's tattooed, is it also ok to not serve someone because they have an accent, are too skinny or too fat, have mullets?

Please.

[Elena]

24.

" I was constantly surprised by how little my fellow students knew about the subject. "

Cecily, I'll bet some of your readers would be surprised about how much my Catholic, homeschooled, conservative kids know about sex - to the point that when I want to tell them something, (maybe something from the news or current events) they role their eyes and finish my sentences for me! ; )

[ALG]

25.

I didn't read all the comments and someone else probably covered it, but isn't it illegal for a doctor to refuse treatment to a patient? I'm not sure on what basis, if any, you can refuse treatment to a patient assuming the patient is insured or can pay.

About the tatoos--see Leviticus 19:28, which says, "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord." While tatoos are forbidden according to Jewish interpretation of this verse, it definitely doesn't say anything about mistreating anyone who has a tatoo!

[ALG]

26.

Shoot, I spelled tattoo wrong. Whoops.

[Cheryl]

27.

Since it's free for all Monday, I had a random question for you. Did you say awhile back that you were watching "Studio 60?" I hear it is on the verge of cancellation, and has always gotten tons of criticism from the TV blogs and whatnot. There are about a million things I hate about it and yet I have seen every episode and am strangely bummed at this cancellation news. What do you think?

[margi]

28.

(I quickly scanned the comments, forgive me if this has already been suggested)

Have you tried ice packs for your migrane? I suffer from headaches, and have been getting massage(pain treatment massages are so notrelaxation massages and physical therapy. The PT was the one who told me about ice packs. The muscles in your neck and shoulders are forced to relax...for some reason the cold makes them relax..and I'm not versed in the reason enough to explain it.

Ice packs are often my best friend. Hell, they'd be my lover if not for the icy cold! :)

[Ellen]

29.

Wow. Do they strip search parents for tatoos when they show up with sick kids? Seems only fair - that way you discriminate against all tatoos, not just the obvious ones. You wouldn't want to think that your other patients had been seen or even been associating with a tatooed parent and feeling okay without knowing what a pariah was in their midst. ;)

Is it weird of me to wonder, though, who this kid has been seeing up until this point? I mean, from the picture she looks about 2 and a half. She clearly ought to have had a doctor before this point. Are they new in town? Trying to switch doctors? Too big a line at the er? Probably it's an irrelevant detail, but I'm curious.

Good luck with the headache and congrats on the article - off to read that now.

[Ellen]

30.

To clarify - I'm mostly wondering if these people were seeking emergency treatment, or if they were applying to become new patients in a practice. It seems above and beyond the call of dickishness to apply such rigid criterion if all we're talking about is a one time visit. Don't even get me started on the non-Christianness of it, or the fact that the poor patient is being discriminated against because of other people's fashion statements and not even her own.

[calgone take me away]

31.

I had a Fuckin awlful migrane on Sunday! The kind when you can not sleep & think about going to the ER b/c the pain is so intense. Thankfully my PRESCRIBED drug combo worked. I took one Relpax(usually that works for me), but not Sunday. So I took 1 valium(nuerologist prescribed for when my migranes are so horrible that I can not sleep). I sat in the tub took like two showers in the dark. Then took another Relplax later. And thankfully I woke w/ no headache!
Migranes are a bitch!

[baseballmom]

32.

Dumbass doctor! I was at the "y" today for swimming lessons, and observed a mom with lots of tats doing babyswim with her little girl, and having a ball, both of their faces were just glowing...then in the parking lot, I watched her putting her little girl in a carseat while two 'soccermom' type yuppy women whispered about her because of her tattoos, and the fact that her Suburban had a big tattoo parlor ad on the windows. Why can't people just give other people a chance, before they jump to conclusions about what kind of person they are, judging by their looks? Stupid.